SmugMug brings respected tools to 'Camera Awesome' iPhone app

Strangely-entitled photo sharing site SmugMug has launched a zanily-named iPhone app. The free 'Camera Awesome' app gives iPhone users greater control over the phone's camera and adds a series of filters and processing tools. This includes the ability to separate focus and metering, and adds a virtual level gauge. It also includes filters, textures and frames from Kevin Kubota as well as an 'Awesomize' button powered by Athentech's 'Perfectly Clear' technology.

Press Release:

Camera Awesome: You Took That Photo on an iPhone®? Liar.

Free iPhone App Says “No!” to Ugly Smartphone Photos

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Feb. 29, 2012 – Camera Awesome captures special memories with the camera you actually own, not the dSLR you’d sell your soul for. It takes your photos to the next level by shooting faster and taking sharper, better-exposed shots. Make your memories come alive with gorgeous effects -- and share them on all the sites you love.

“The iPhone is revolutionizing photography by empowering us to invent the camera you never knew you always wanted. It only takes a few minutes to realize you’re holding the future of photography in your hands. The world will be a better place when everyone has an app worthy of the iPhone camera,” said Don MacAskill, CEO & Chief Geek of SmugMug.

Three Simple Steps

Shoot: Camera Awesome is faaasst, and so simple anyone can use it. And yet, it has high-end features even expensive cameras lack, such as a level for the horizon and the ability to focus on one spot and set exposure on another.

At a concert? Camera Awesome can automatically apply your favorite effect and share as you shoot so your friends who can’t wait won’t have to.

Camera Awesome's breathtaking collection of filters, textures and frames includes exclusive filters created by Kevin Kubota. Named a Top 10 Wedding Photographer by American Photo, Kubota created the industry's most popular post-processing actions for Photoshop and Lightroom.

"I was thrilled to create filters for Camera Awesome because of the power it places in the hands of iPhone photographers," said Kubota. “Kubota filters are the standard for pro photographers around the world who use programs like Photoshop®, and now they are available to everyone via Camera Awesome."

Comments

I just can't work out how to separate the exposure and focus points. No matter what I do, they just stay together.. I'm a newbie to smartphones and have large fingers... I'd appreciate an 'instructions for dummies' reply !!

I've read that you need to tap the bottom of the screen to get the zoom slider, but it doesn't work for me. I just installed the app on my iPhone 4S. I've tried tapping all over the screen; even when I tap at the very bottom (in the black bar, next to the "take photo" button), nothing happens. When I tap anywhere in the frame, I just get the focus/exposure selectors. What's going on here?

Now when I played with the Camera Awesome I really can see that this freemium app feature by feature is fully in the league of paid apps like Camera+ and ProCamera. Even without paid (in-app purchase) filters it's quite powerful and it feels faster and less bloated than others.

One thing that I noticed is that the app requires active data connection to apply the filter (any - free or paid). Why is this? It seems like a big limitation which is absent in other similar apps.

Love Camera Awesome! Been playing with if for 24 hours and I can honestly say that it is the best camera app yet for the iphone. The thing that none of the reviewers seem to be mentioning is that it uses a Zero Shutter Lag trick that also makes it the fastest camera app for the iphone.

Interesting app., and I love the price! I'm sure I'm missing something, but is there any way to attach a picture/video directly to a text message inside the app? I see how to upload to FB/etc. and to email it, but I don't see how to text it. The only way I've seen is to export it to the camera roll and then go from there.

There's an app called nightcap which allows for exposures upto 1 second, and gives the ability to do motion blur in some situations such as this: http://rtwdiaries.com/sites/default/files/6777031388_be896bbf5d_b.jpg

This camera app is impressive! I paid for the Camera+ app and stopped using it since it occasionally crashes on my iPhone 4S. Camera Awesome looks to be similar operating speed and fairly stable as the native iOS camera app. Hopefully, future upgrades will make it even better.

Thanks Andy. I, for some reason, missed the tap on the lower part of the screen for the zoom. As I have used it more and more and gotten use to moving around it - It is great! I pulled in some pictures taken by other camera apps and edited them with Smug Mug. They turned out great. Thanks to you Andy and the rest of your crew for this great app.

When you have something that is feature rich, refined, yet free. I have to be skeptical that those development cost has to come from somewhere. Maybe this will eventually become a paid app. But more worrying is the privacy. Will this app use the photo we took and some how turn them into revenue, and I am not talking about copyright. Just like facebook, our app requests permission to read your SMS but we don't really do it, for now.

Well the app is free to download, and you do get 9 each of the filters, frames, etc., but the other 250+ effects are purchased, in packs of 9 for US$1 a pack. Presumably thats where the revenue will come from.I suck at math, but the whole enchilada is going to set you back, what? Over twenty bucks? Of course, this is like the Photoshop desktop plug-in market - you get enough to get you started, and you add on others as you need/want them...

I'd be surprised if this hasn't been suggested before, but imagine the possibilities if camera manufacturers (or even just one of the big ones) settled on a standardized high-level software platform that allowed third-party installable in-camera apps full access to quality photographic hardware.

I recognize there would be lots of technical challenges to make it viable (I'm a software developer myself), and that it would make cheap firmware-based model/pricing differentation a thing of the past, but there's gotta be something there...

Great idea for a whole new business opportunity. Imagine something like this in pro cameras. Most camera companies SUCK on software side. They should focus on hardware and leave software apps to other companies/individuals by opening up their camera APIs like iPhone.

Much ado about nothing. There are zillion of apps like it on the App Store already and for a long time. Just check Camera+, Camera Pro, King Camera, etc. I'm sure there are analogues on Android market. Camera Awesome also seems to lack stabilizer which all of the mentioned apps (and others) have.

Hi klopus, Camera Awesome indeed does have image stabilization built-in. Those other apps you mention are paid apps, we built this one for our love of photography and photo sharing. Hope you'll try it!

No, it has image stabilization. Click the little "up" arrow next to the shutter button, and it lets you choose between single-shot, stabilized single shot, touchscreen shutter release, burst mode etc.).

Hi Andy, I mentioned this new app on theappwhisperer.com too today and I've had quite a lot of feedback regarding the in-app purchases. From what I can gather so far there are 29 in total. Many readers are expressing that this isn't really a 'free' app. Just wondered what your thoughts were...

@the appwhisperer: there are 36 free presets included with the free app - 9 each of filters, presets, textures and frames. Then there are a ton more others of each that can be purchased. I hope this helps clear things up!

Hi Andy, thanks for your reply. I think many readers were concerned that there were just so many in-app purchases on this app. We're all quite used to a few but there's as you say 'a ton that can be purchased'.

1. Is the image stabilization an in-camera thing that cuts down on hand shake or the kind that doesn't let you take the picture until your hand stops shaking?

2. I saw the screen on the app that allows users to buy extra filters but it didn't seem to explain what the filters do. How would I find that out before I buy?

PS I've been using the app and it seems to have more functionality than I've seen from other photo apps. The one thing I would love to see is a preset slider that lets me set exposure compensation before I shoot. No one seems to have that.

@TimT999 1. cuts down on shake, won't hamper your click-speed2. just select the filter you want to see, then you can scroll left right and you can see your photo with any of the filters (yes, before you purchase).

It's really cool. I like the separate focus and metering spots, the "Awesomizer" and the ability to share easily with many online communities (including Smugmug and Facebook, the two I use most often). Very nice :)

The main reason I also own an iPhone 4s (work issued - they gave me a choice and I chose iPhone) with my Android Galaxy Nexus (personal), is the iPhone 4s camera and iOS camera apps. Android really sucks pickles on camera apps! And the android camera phones are really sucky also. In good light, the cameras are competitive with iPhone 4s. However, in low light, the iPhone back illuminated CMOS sensor eats their lunch!! That's coming from an Android fan boy!! I'm hoping Android phone makers change this soon!

Hiya Jeff, long time no talk :) We’re working on Android. Promise. But it’s *very* hard. There’s a ton of different hardware, and then Google/Android give us pretty insane memory limitations. We’re working through all the issues, but it will still be awhile.

Turns out there’s a good reason why there aren’t any great camera apps on Android yet. They make it nearly impossible.

I've seen a few Android Apps that have a disclaimer saying things like "if supported by the hardware." I suppose this is especially problematic with things like focusing and exposure that may be controlled at the firmware level and not accessible to an App.

2) Seems that the hardware button (volume control) shutter release doesn't work, only the screen big button or little button option. Has anyone found a setting to use the hardware button?

I have an issue with video, and it maybe a setting or user error. But the video I shoot when exported to iPhoto comes out vertical in portrait mode. Reviewing on the iPhone also portrait mode. Yet I clearly and purposely shot it in landscape/horizontal mode. What gives?